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Vancouver, British Columbia – July 22, 2026 - TheNewswire – Grafton Resources Inc. (CSE:GFT; OTCQB: GFTFF; FSE: K8L0) (" Grafton Resources " or the " Company ") is pleased to announce that the Company has established a new, high-potential Ag-Cu-Au-Sb project called Caldera, in the Pedernal district, Valparaiso Region, Chile. The Caldera Project (or “ Caldera ”) comprises a number of concessions targeting favourable geology in the Morro Hediondo Caldera region of Petorca.

Highlights

• 3.8 km of vein trends secured across continuous outcrop, entirely undrilled.  

• Historical samples grade up to 4.0 g/t Au, 300 g/t Ag and 12.4% Cu in epithermal vein systems.  

• Vein systems previously exploited by artisanal miners and zones of strong epithermal alteration that have never been tested by modern exploration methods.  

Campbell Smyth, Chairman of Grafton Resources, commented: "By leveraging proprietary in-country expertise, Grafton Resources has secured licences over highly prospective vein systems that are known to host high-grade mineralization but never subjected to systematic modern exploration. The Project areas sit at low elevation in a mining district that can be accessed and explored year-round. Grafton Resources geologists have already started work on these concession areas and results will follow shortly. We are excited to be able to establish a highly prospective land position on strike from an existing operating mine. ”

The Caldera Project – A Consolidated Land Position

The Caldera Project consolidates multiple prospective land positions within the Pedernal district into a single coherent exploration package:

• 10 newly staked exploration concessions, totalling 2,100 ha, covering continuous trends of mineralized vein outcrop and areas with classic epithermal alteration;  

• The Silver One concessions (San Lorenzo 1-18), the subject of the Company’s letter of intent with Asesorías e Inversiones Sol SpA (“ AIS ”) announced on 17 January 2026 (see "Silver One Definitive Agreements" below); and  

• A historic geological database covering the broader district (see "Historic Data Acquisition" below), which originally informed the concession selection.  

In combination, the Caldera Project brings the principal NW-SE vein trend, the parallel NE-SW trend that hosts the Silver One concessions, and the surrounding alteration targets into a single project approximately 10 km from the producing El Bronce mine.

The Pedernal District

The Pedernal district lies on the eastern margin of the Morro Hediondo Caldera, a 14-km-diameter, geologically remarkable circular structure. The area is characterized by a conspicuous porphyritic ring dike and widespread hydrothermal alteration at its centre. This circular structure, in the Petorca Municipality of central Chile, is also commonly associated with the genesis of the historic Au-Cu-Ag El Bronce mine, located 5 km to the southwest.

Mineralization at El Bronce is largely hosted in a series of high-grade ore shoots within consistently mineralized epithermal veins. The epithermal vein sets of El Bronce extend almost 8 km in a north-south trend and is estimated to have contained 25 tonnes of gold, 105 tonnes of silver and 16 000 tonnes of Cu, at grades of 4.8 g/t Au, 20 g/t Ag and 0.3% Cu. 1 El Bronce remains in operation.

The Morro Hediondo Caldera hosts several low-sulfidation epithermal vein and alteration systems, ranging from predominantly gold-bearing veins to veins rich in base metals and silver. Outside the caldera, such as at El Bronce, gold is the dominant metal. Inside the caldera, such as in the Pedernal district, silver and copper are the dominant metals.

The New Set of Concessions

Grafton Resources has staked exploration concessions directly from the government, totalling 2,100 Ha, covering continuous trends of mineralized vein outcrop.

The selection of these areas was based on a historic sampling database inherited from the agreements with AIS in connection with the acquisition of the Silver One concession (see news release of January 16, 2026). In addition to the samples within the Silver One concession, the database contains 150 samples from elsewhere in the district, analysed by ICP multi-element, Au fire assay, and selected base metals by atomic absorption.

Ninety-two per cent of the samples returned anomalous Cu (>0.1% Cu), 24% exceeded 3.0% Cu, and the maximum was 12.4% Cu. Silver shows a similar pattern, with 25% of the samples exceeding 100 ppm Ag. Notably, 12% of the silver assays exceeded the method’s maximum detection limit (100 ppm in some cases, 300 ppm in others), so the true grades of these samples remain unknown. Few samples were assayed for gold, and the highest values (up to 4.0 g/t Au) come from the Silver One area.

All anomalous silver samples also returned very high values for antimony (up to 1.22% Sb), arsenic (up to 7,300 ppm As) and mercury (up to 8,040 ppm Hg) - a typical epithermal low-sulphidation signature, consistent with the upper levels of the system. The sampling, carried out by AIS, was done during 2021. Most results are supported by laboratory certificates but lack formal QA/QC and should be treated as a historical, initial indicator only.

The principal concession block covers 3,100 m of the NW-SE vein trend, along which 13 samples grade more than 3.0% Cu and seven exceed 100 g/t Ag. The northwestern end of the trend includes the historic artisanal La Plata mine, where local residents report past production of very high-grade silver ore. A second block of concessions covers 900 m of a NE-SW trend, interpreted as a parallel to the Silver One vein system. To the WSW, one concession covers one of the strongest hydrothermal alteration zones in the caldera. Two further concessions cover the strike extensions of historic Cu-Ag mines in the north of the district (Los Maquis and La Nueva).

Elevations within the project area range from 1,000 m to 1,800 m above sea level. Access is via established paved roads from Chincolco and gravel roads from Pedernales, allowing year-round work.

Silver One Definitive Agreements

The Company, its wholly-owned Chilean subsidiary Grafton Resources Chile SpA (“ Grafton Chile ”) and AIS have entered into: (i) a framework agreement dated July 21 , 2026 (the “ Framework Agreement ”); (ii) two definitive option agreements dated July 21, 2026 relating to each of the Silver One concession, and the Silver Two and Silver Three concessions, respectively (the " Option Agreements "); and (iii) a share consideration agreement dated July 21 , 2026 (together with the Framework Agreement and Option Agreements, the “ Silver One Agreements ”), which supersede the letter of intent announced by the Company on January 16, 2026.

Under the revised terms of the Silver One Agreements, the Company has been granted: (i) an option (the “ Option ”) to acquire a 100% interest in the Silver One Property (comprised of the Silver One, Silver Two and Silver Three concessions) on the following basis:

• Cash payments totalling CAD$248,000, to be paid in a first tranche of CAD$148,000 on signing and a further CAD$100,000 within 24 months of signing;  

• Share consideration equal in value to CAD$400,000 in aggregate, to be issued in two tranches of CAD$200,000 on signing and a further CAD$200,000 within 24 months of signing. The number of shares issued in each tranche is calculated using the closing price of the Company’s common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (“ CSE ”) on the trading day immediately preceding issuance.  

The Option remains subject to CSE approval. On exercise of the Option, and assuming that the Silver Two and Silver Three mining concession applications (pedimentos) are approved, Grafton Chile will hold a 100% interest in the Silver One Property (which will be consolidated under the wider Caldera Project).

Historic Data Acquisition

Under an additional information agreement with AIS, a historic geological database covering the broader Caldera licence area, comprising approximately 150 surface and underground samples with multi-element assays has been acquired by Grafton Resources. The database was used in the selection of the concessions described above and it will continue to support target generation across the consolidated Caldera Project.

Next steps

Grafton Resources has begun a geological reconnaissance of the granted areas. This programme will resample the historically mineralized sites, extend the sampling coverage to support the consolidated Caldera Project, and produce preliminary geological models of each occurrence. Results will be reported as they become available.

Qualified Person

Gilberto Schubert (B.Sc., M.Sc., MBA, M.Sc. Min Ec.), a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and geological consultant to the Company, has reviewed and approved the technical information provided in this news release, including the historical sample database and the analytical methods used at this time. Mr. Schubert is not independent, as he is a director of the Company. The QP verified selected laboratory assay certificates against the reported rock samples. Insufficient work has been done to validate the sampling methodology and the validity of the historical results presented.

About Grafton Resources

Grafton Resources is a Canadian exploration company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), focused on the discovery and development of copper and gold assets in the Americas. The Company is committed to responsible exploration, strong community partnerships, and generating shareholder value through disciplined project advancement.

On behalf of Grafton Resources.

Campbell Smyth
Chairman

For further information, please contact:

Campbell Smyth
csmyth@graftonresources.com
+61403203402

Neither Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release includes certain statements and information that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements that relate to the potential mineralization on the Company’s mineral properties, future exploration plans on the Company’s mineral properties and the timing and results of future exploration . .

Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the business of the Company. Such statements can generally, but not always, be identified by words such as "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "forecasts", "schedules", "prepares", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. All statements that describe the Company's plans relating to operations and potential strategic opportunities are forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. These statements address future events and conditions and are reliant on assumptions made by the Company's management, and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties, as disclosed in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators, including without limitation, the dangers inherent in exploration, development and mining activities; actual exploration or development plans and costs differing materially from the Company’s estimates; the ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for mining activities; environmental regulations or hazards and compliance with complex regulations associated with mining activities; climate change and climate change regulations; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability of financing; operations in foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign laws, remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure; fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for mining operations; shortages or cost increases in necessary equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and country risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and the effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties and joint venture partners; challenges to title or surface rights; the dependence on key personnel and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss; adverse climate and weather conditions; litigation risk; and competition with other mining companies. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, and the assumptions underlying the forward-looking information, actual results could materially differ from those currently projected, and there is no representation by the Company that the actual results realized in the future will be the same in whole or in part as those presented herein. the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. Readers are referred to the additional information regarding the Company's business contained in the Company's reports filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that could cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. For more information on the Company and the risks and challenges of its business, investors should review the Company's filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Company provides no assurance that forward-looking statements and information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward looking statements, other than as required by law.

1  https://portergeo.com.au/database . Porter Geo is a global database maintained by Porter Geoconsultancy. The El Bronce page draws on information from two 1991 papers:

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